LinkedIn Crossclimb #867

LinkedIn Crossclimb #867 is the LinkedIn Crossclimb daily for September 14, 2026. Crossclimb is LinkedIn's word-ladder game: solve 5 middle crossword clues, order the rungs so adjacent words differ by one letter, then unlock the top and bottom combo words. This page includes the live board, a solved-board view, and a step-by-step Solution walkthrough. Difficulty: Easy. Estimated solve time: 3–5 min. Read the explainer sections below for strategy, or jump straight into play.

The complete word ladder from SORT to KIND:

SORT → SORE → MORE → MIRE → MINE → MIND → KIND

Top and bottom share the combo clue: “Two synonyms of the word "variety."”

1. Middle 1Exhibit A

   SORE

   Aching a bit, as after a run

   Clue insight

   Exhibit A — "Aching a bit, as after a run" → SORE. "Aching a bit, as after a run" resolves to "SORE" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.

2. Middle 2Exhibit B

   MORE

   Opposite of less

   Clue insight

   Exhibit B — "Opposite of less" → MORE. "Opposite of less" resolves to "MORE" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.

3. Middle 3Exhibit C

   MIRE

   Swampy land

   Clue insight

   Exhibit C — "Swampy land" → MIRE. "Swampy land" resolves to "MIRE" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.

4. Middle 4Exhibit D

   MINE

   Dig in the earth for precious metals

   Clue insight

   Exhibit D — "Dig in the earth for precious metals" → MINE. "Dig in the earth for precious metals" resolves to "MINE" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.

5. Middle 5Exhibit E

   MIND

   “Make up your ___” (come to a decision)

   Clue insight

   Exhibit E — "“Make up your ___” (come to a decision)" → MIND. Fill-in style clue — "MIND" completes the pattern described in "“Make up your ___” (come to a decision)".

   Solving note

   A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.

1. SORT → SOREStep 1

   T→E at the fourth letter (SORT → SORE)

   Link A: T→E at the fourth letter (SORT → SORE).

   Combo-adjacent link — confirms end word placement.

2. SORE → MOREStep 2

   S→M at the first letter (SORE → MORE)

   Link B: S→M at the first letter (SORE → MORE).

   Middle chain link — ordering constraint.

3. MORE → MIREStep 3

   O→I at the second letter (MORE → MIRE)

   Link C: O→I at the second letter (MORE → MIRE).

   Middle chain link — ordering constraint.

4. MIRE → MINEStep 4

   R→N at the third letter (MIRE → MINE)

   Link D: R→N at the third letter (MIRE → MINE).

   Middle chain link — ordering constraint.

5. MINE → MINDStep 5

   E→D at the fourth letter (MINE → MIND)

   Link E: E→D at the fourth letter (MINE → MIND).

   Middle chain link — ordering constraint.

6. MIND → KINDStep 6

   M→K at the first letter (MIND → KIND)

   Link F: M→K at the first letter (MIND → KIND).

   Combo-adjacent link — confirms end word placement.

The evidence supports middle order SORE → MORE → MIRE → MINE → MIND. Alternative permutations break the one-letter adjacency rule unless an answer is wrong.

Final exhibits: SORT (top combo) and KIND (bottom combo). Shared prompt: "Two synonyms of the word "variety."".

The combo clue "Two synonyms of the word "variety."" describes both end words together — "SORT" and "KIND" each differ by one letter from their adjacent middle rungs and satisfy the shared top+bottom prompt.

Phase 1: Solve the 5 middle crossword clues to unlock SORE, MORE, MIRE, MINE, MIND. Middle 1: "Aching a bit, as after a run" → SORE. "Aching a bit, as after a run" resolves to "SORE" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 2: "Opposite of less" → MORE. "Opposite of less" resolves to "MORE" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 3: "Swampy land" → MIRE. "Swampy land" resolves to "MIRE" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 4: "Dig in the earth for precious metals" → MINE. "Dig in the earth for precious metals" resolves to "MINE" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 5: "“Make up your ___” (come to a decision)" → MIND. Fill-in style clue — "MIND" completes the pattern described in "“Make up your ___” (come to a decision)". Phase 2: Order the middle rungs so adjacent words differ by one letter — valid chain: SORE → MORE → MIRE → MINE → MIND. Ladder step: T→E at the fourth letter (SORT → SORE) (connects to a combo end). Ladder step: S→M at the first letter (SORE → MORE). Ladder step: O→I at the second letter (MORE → MIRE). Ladder step: R→N at the third letter (MIRE → MINE). Ladder step: E→D at the fourth letter (MINE → MIND). Ladder step: M→K at the first letter (MIND → KIND) (connects to a combo end). Phase 3: Unlock combo ends — top "SORT" and bottom "KIND" share the clue: Two synonyms of the word "variety.".

Only one middle permutation forms a valid ladder from top to bottom — if ordering feels stuck, recheck a middle answer.

This Crossclimb is a 4-letter word ladder from SORT to KIND. The top and bottom rows share one combo clue: Two synonyms of the word "variety.". The solution path is SORT → SORE → MORE → MIRE → MINE → MIND → KIND, changing exactly one letter between each rung. Middle clues include Aching a bit, as after a run, Opposite of less, and Swampy land, and others — solve these before reordering. Correct middle order: SORE → MORE → MIRE → MINE → MIND. The combo clue "Two synonyms of the word "variety."" describes both end words together — "SORT" and "KIND" each differ by one letter from their adjacent middle rungs and satisfy the shared top+bottom prompt. Only one middle permutation forms a valid ladder from top to bottom — if ordering feels stuck, recheck a middle answer. Use the Solution tab above for a three-phase walkthrough (middles → order → combo ends), or the Solved board tab for the complete ladder at a glance.